You don’t necessarily need to board a plane to see elephants, sea lions and penguins. Because in the heart of Amsterdam you can visit them at Artis, the oldest zoo in the Netherlands.
Once your tour of Artis starts, you’ll understand why Amsterdam families take out subscriptions to this zoo. You just don’t have enough time for your eyes to take in so many animals. There’s everything from bucking zebras to the magnificent residents of the Butterfly Pavilion. Then there is the Micropia too, where you can discover the smallest organisms in the world. If you need refreshments, drop in at the Twee Cheetahs restaurant with its island playground and view over the Savannah.
Nice to know
Artis was founded in 1838 to foster a knowledge of nature. The park’s first occupants were parrots, apes and a Surinamese forest cat. A year later, they were joined by newcomers including an elephant, a tiger, a panther and a pair of lions.
Photography: Ronald van Weeren & Maarten van der Wal
| Artis | |
| address: | Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, Amsterdam |
| open: | November to February daily from 9am to 5pm March to October daily from 9am to 6pm June, July & August, open every Saturday until sunset |
| online: | artis.nl/nl/language/ |
Artis
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